Swedish EU parliamentarians want to stop flyttkarusell: It's crazy

When the Swedish social democrats, calls for a press breakfast at the european Parliament in Strasbourg, held the meeting in the ground floor of the building ca

04 May 2019 Saturday 14:01

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When the Swedish social democrats, calls for a press breakfast at the european Parliament in Strasbourg, held the meeting in the ground floor of the building called Winston Churchill. One of all the reminders that this is a region in Europe, the era of the continent's martial past.

who was born in Strasbourg in the early 1900s was a German citizen, was a frenchman in his youth, became a German again for a few years during the second world war and was aged and then died as a frenchman.

Next to the river Rhine, the border between France and Germany, is a memorial to the fallen resistance fighters. There are as well German as French names engraved.

When it is Strasbourgsvecka start the EU parliamentarian Anna Hedh, S, at 05.20 in the morning to get from Kalmar via Stockholm and Frankfurt to Strasbourg. Where she arrives just before the clock 16.”For me, it takes the same amount of time to fly to New York. It is not wise,” she says. Photo: Daniel Costantini

founded that there never would be war between nations, it is not particularly surprising that one of the EU's major institutions have been placed here in the borderland. But to the european Parliament ended up in Strasbourg, is partially random.

When the EU's predecessor, the coal and steel community, was formed in the beginning of the 1950s needed interpreters and equipment to them. In Strasbourg were already in the council of europe, which had just the facilities (see box opposite). Voilà, Strasbourg had to be!

It began as a practical solution became then a tradition where the two largest founding states, France and Germany, was strong pressure point. First, in 1992, was formally entered in the EU treaties to twelve times a year, the european Parliament meet in Strasbourg. The rest of the time you are in Brussels.

usually, with several changes on the way, from their home country to this big city in Alsace. The officials in Brussels fell to the 440 kilometers, one way, with specialchartrat train, while trucks carrying documents and other documents to the members.

in addition, journalists, lobbyists and others with an interest in the parliament and you have at least a couple of thousand people around the 15th of every month (except summer) flows for the four day session in Strasbourg. To get to the twelve occasions it is double sessions some months.

the EU parliament in Strasbourg. Photo: Daniel Costantini

To besöksnäringens the great delight it is, then, crowded at the restaurants and the prices are more than double. The congestion increases on the tram that goes from the beautiful old town with its half-timbered houses of parliament's big, modern and difficult to navigate fastighetskomplex in the city's outskirts.

in the Winston Churchill and the other buildings, all named after persons who sought european cooperation. Kafeteriornas coffee machines is booming, cigarettlukt leaking out from the rökburarna, people crowd into the elevators, all the EU languages can be heard in the corridors. Late into the evenings debating the mps in the chamber.

But this flurry of activity is thus an exception. Over 300 days of the year, it is empty, deserted, silent behind glasfasaderna. The beautiful plants in the atrium that is admired by no one.

"It's crazy," says Anna Hedh, Mep for the social democrats since 2004, if flyttcirkusen.

She continues:

" Ever since I started as parliamentarians, we have demonstrated, sittstrejkat and written proposals what you can do with this house instead.

Flyttlådan. Photo: Daniel Costantini

would move here. Brexit made namely that the authority would be located about from the city of London. Another proposal is to make if the buildings to a Europauniversitet.

– Then there would be continuity. It would make as much on that when we come here twelve times a year, " says Anna Hedh.

She sighs, aware that the european Parliament can easily get a faintly lustre of this evighetsfråga. Anna Hedh do not think the longer it goes to resolve.

– It is not so long as France and Germany blocking in the council of ministers. In addition, they have decided to build on this. All parliamentarians and their assistants should have their own rooms. Then we become even more solid, " she says.

of 600 million euros, more than six billion. The actual removal costs over a billion dollars, counting the EU's auditors, in 2014.

who still think flyttcirkusen can be stopped is Anna Maria Corazza Bildt, M. She is the chairman of the campaign, Single Seat (A seat).

Anna Maria Corazza Bildt in the european parliament in Strasbourg. Photo: Pia Gripenberg

" the Biggest challenge is resignation, that this is not going to change. But I nag and try to keep my hope up. And it is an increasing majority who say ”basta” to flyttkarusellen, " she says.

She considers that the parliament has done their part of the work, now it is time for the member states ' heads of state and government in the European council to do its.

"They have the power to change in författningsfördraget," says Anna Maria Corazza Bildt.

all member states should be united. The stakeholders in such negotiation are France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Angela Merkel. They have the support of Luxembourg, who is anxious to get rid of the parliamentary administration, which is housed in the grand duchy.

For these countries, Strasbourg is still a strong symbol for peace in Europe.

" It is not possible to forget, but we must manage the fredsminnet in a way that is different. A way that costs less, impacts the environment less and that does not affect our efficiency, " says Anna Maria Corazza Bildt.

She has taken up flyttcirkusen directly with Emmanuel Macron.

" He has never said no to dialogue. But of course, he can't respond publicly, in a debate seen by millions of French people that ”yes, we go with it”. But the task is not impossible, it is a matter of time.

the EU parliament in Strasbourg. Photo: Daniel Costantini

satisfied that both Angela Merkel and her successor as party leader for the CDU, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, want parliament to sit in one place.

Therefore think Corazza Bildt that the next time the EU författningsfördrag changed, the seat of parliament to be included as part of the package that the member states are negotiating about.

She stresses that the campaign is Single Seat work for the long term and avoid trouble, because it is only in consensus that the issue can be resolved. Why have none of the right-wing parties entered the campaign.

"They want to use the move to break in Europe," she says.

Anna Maria Corazza Bildt is demoted from the conservatives the EU-list, but hope that her successor axes the fight. It also makes Anna Hedh, who also ends up as parliamentarians.

– The new must continue to put the time in to put a stop to this. If you do not die question, " says Anna Hedh.

Anna Hedh in Strasbourg. Photo: Daniel Costantini

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